Tumor region setting method and system

Abstract

A tumor region setting method and system capable of simply and accurately setting a tumor region. A processor extracts contour data of a tumor region from a PET image read out of a medical image server and converts the extracted contour data to vector line data. A monitor displays the tumor region represented by the vector line data in superimposed relation to an X-ray CT image read out of the medical image server.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a tumor region setting method and system used in radiation medicine for setting a tumor region based on nuclear medicine image information that is obtained from a nuclear medicine diagnosis apparatus. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Radiation treatment is generally progressed through successive steps, i.e., (1) capturing of an X-ray CT image of a patient, (2) planning of a treatment plan based on the X-ray CT image, and (3) treatment using radiation irradiation equipment in accordance with the treatment plan. Main purposes of the treatment plan are to set a tumor region on the X-ray CT image and to set a dose irradiated to the set tumor region. The tumor region is set, for example, by a direct setting method on the X-ray CT image, or a method combined with an MRI image (i.e., an image captured by an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) system) that is superior in observin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] In view of the above-mentioned problems with the related art, an object of the present invention is to provide a tumor region setting method and system capable of simply and accurately setting a tumor region.

[0011] In the present invention, when a threshold is set in terms of a count value or a SUV value, the contour of the tumor region is extracted from a PET image and contour data is converted to vector line data by a processor in an automatic manner. It is therefore possible to eliminate the necessity of tracing the contour of the tumor region by the operator's hand unlike the related art, and to noticeably simplify the operation for setting the tumor region. Further, since the contour is automatically extracted based on the threshold, the tumor region can be set with high reproducibility regardless of the skills and other factors of individual operators. As a result, the present invention enables the tumor region to be simply and accurately set.

[0022] According to the present invention, the tumor region can be simply and accurately set by extracting the contour information of the tumor region from the nuclear medicine image information and converting the extracted contour information to the vector line information.

Problems solved by technology

Such a manual process requires time and labor in setting the tumor region, and inevitably causes differences in tracing results of the tumor region depending on the skills and other factors of individual operators, thus resulting in lower accuracy in definition of the tumor region.

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